Corrective Surgeries – The Plastic Surgery Group Bloghttps://www.theplasticsurgerygroup.net/blog
Albany, NY, Plastic Surgery BlogWed, 17 Jan 2018 22:54:47 +0000en-UShourly1Preventative Mastectomies and Breast Reconstructionhttps://www.theplasticsurgerygroup.net/blog/preventative-mastectomies-and-breast-reconstruction/
https://www.theplasticsurgerygroup.net/blog/preventative-mastectomies-and-breast-reconstruction/#respondWed, 15 May 2013 15:50:06 +0000http://www.theplasticsurgerygroup.net/blog/?p=1125Continue reading →]]>This week, Angelina Jolie, actress, director and mother of six children, published an Op-Ed with the New York Times revealing her decision to pursue preventive mastectomies in order to lower her risk of breast cancer. Her mother had fought and died from cancer, and with hereditary risks and the discovery of Jolie’s mutated BRCA gene, her risk of breast cancer was an astounding 87 percent. Unaffected by preventive mastectomies, her risk of ovarian cancer remains at a high 50 percent.

After her surgeries to remove her breast tissue, expanders were inserted to stretch the skin, allowing breasts to be reconstructed with implants.

There are a number of factors that go into making a decision such as Jolie’s about preventative measures to lower risk of breast cancer. Undergoing any surgical procedure, such as mastectomies, have their own inherent physical and emotional risks. Cost can also be a concern, as her test for the BRCA1 gene is not always covered by insurance, and not all insurance companies choose to cover preventive mastectomies or reconstruction procedures directly resulting from these preventive mastectomies.

One concern the doctors of The Plastic Surgery Group can immediately address is the feared loss of femininity with the loss of natural breast tissue. Reconstructive breast procedures have dramatically improved, and skilled plastic surgeons can recreate breasts that remain natural looking. Clothed, the recreated breasts may appear no different at all, and bare, scarring can be minimized and nipples preserved or recreated.

Should you be considering preventive mastectomies, schedule a consultation with a plastic surgeon to understand what your individual reconstruction process would look like. Will you have your breasts reconstructed immediately after the mastectomy? A few weeks after, or months later? Understand the plastic surgeon’s history of working with the general surgeon who will be responsible for the mastectomy, and look at before and after photos of your potential surgeons’ patients to see their reconstructive work.

We know that the decision to undergo preventive mastectomies is not a decision taken lightly, and our plastic surgeons will make sure that you are emotionally prepared to undergo the procedure, as will your general surgeon, and no one will pressure you to make a decision with which you are not comfortable. Should you choose to move forward with the preventative procedure, our reconstructive surgeons will be there after your mastectomies to help you feel yourself as soon as possible. It is our goal to protect both your health and happiness.

If Angelina Jolie’s story or your own personal experience has caused you to have any questions, please contact us, and we’ll be happy to discuss your options.

]]>https://www.theplasticsurgerygroup.net/blog/preventative-mastectomies-and-breast-reconstruction/feed/0Albany Breast Reconstruction Factshttps://www.theplasticsurgerygroup.net/blog/albany-breast-reconstruction-facts/
https://www.theplasticsurgerygroup.net/blog/albany-breast-reconstruction-facts/#commentsWed, 24 Apr 2013 18:10:10 +0000http://www.theplasticsurgerygroup.net/blog/?p=1072Continue reading →]]>Last week, we highlighted the popularity of breast augmentations during the spring season, as people seek to feel more comfortable and confident in their summer clothes. While this procedure can be sought by women with naturally small or large breasts, or women looking to pair the procedure with others such as a breast lift, many other women are in need of a different operation to restore confidence about their bodies: breast reconstruction.

About Breast Reconstruction

At The Plastic Surgery Group, breast reconstruction is a common procedure done by our doctors, who help women restore their natural shape after mastectomies due to breast cancer. We know that a breast cancer diagnosis can be very frightening, and the loss of one or both natural breasts is devastating to the confidence of a woman facing multiple physical and emotional hurdles on her road to recovery.

Breast reconstruction can be performed immediately after a mastectomy or at a later date, depending on the patient’s choice. Breast reconstruction will not be the cause of cancer returning, and many imaging centers are prepared to achieve accurate mammograms despite a breast implant being in place.

Procedure and Recovery

There are multiple types of breast reconstruction, including skin expansion with an insert and flap reconstruction. These methods will be discussed in your consultation, as you work with your doctor to understand what will best suit your body’s needs. Depending on the type of procedure chosen, more than one surgery may be required for the complete reconstruction of your breast, nipple and areola.

Most women require about six weeks of recovery time following breast reconstruction surgery.

The Rewards of Breast Reconstruction

Reconstruction procedures are some of the most rewarding procedures for our doctors to do, as they can lead to the restoration of confidence, happiness, and often normalcy, for many people’s lives.

Dr. Susan Gannon regularly performs breast reconstruction procedures, and her patients hold a special place in her heart.

“I love telling this story, and I’ve told it before, but one of my favorite patients was a young girl in her late twenties with bilateral mastectomies. She was devastated,” according to Dr. Gannon. “She was not married and was concerned about who would love her, but after her reconstruction, her self-confidence came back, and she visited me when she was engaged. She’s now married, and she’s the type of patient you know you’ve really helped.”

Taking the First Step Toward Reconstruction

If you are a candidate for breast reconstruction, whether as a breast cancer patient who will have a mastectomy or someone long healed from her own mastectomy, and you wish to restore the shape of the breasts you had prior to cancer treatments, we encourage you to reach out today. Our consultations are free, and our doctors are ready to help you determine if this is the right choice for you.

Looking for a way to help educate the community about breast cancer detection? Visit To Life!, a non-profit organization providing free-of-charge breast cancer education and support services in and around Albany County. The Plastic Surgery Group is pleased to be a sponsor for the 15th Annual To Life! Gala: Honoring the Women in Our Lives, which will take place Tuesday, May 7 at the Franklin Plaza in Troy, NY.

]]>https://www.theplasticsurgerygroup.net/blog/albany-breast-reconstruction-facts/feed/1Birth Defects Prevention Factshttps://www.theplasticsurgerygroup.net/blog/january-is-national-birth-defects-prevention-month/
https://www.theplasticsurgerygroup.net/blog/january-is-national-birth-defects-prevention-month/#commentsTue, 08 Jan 2013 16:58:44 +0000http://www.theplasticsurgerygroup.net/blog/?p=560Continue reading →]]>Did you know that every four and a half minutes, a baby is born with birth defects? According to the National Birth Defects Prevention Network, 1 in every 33 babies is born with one or more of these conditions, and often there is no family history associated. These birth defects can come in a variety of forms, including spina bifida, heart defects, Down syndrome, cleft lips and palates, and ear abnormalities, among many more.

“Birth defects can cause a significant amount of stress during a time that is otherwise filled with celebration,” says Dr. John Noonan of The Plastic Surgery Group. “Knowing your medical options and the providers out there who can help will ease your worries and allow you to enjoy the celebration of your infant’s birth with your family and friends.”

The plastic surgeons at The Plastic Surgery Group in Albany wanted to let you know more about a few prevalent birth defects we help our patients with throughout the year: cleft lips, cleft palates and ear deformities.

Cleft lips occur when the left and right sides of the mouth don’t grow together as they typically do during the early weeks of infant development. Similarly, cleft palates are caused when the left and right sides of the mouth do not join together during early development. These issues can cause the appearance of the child’s face to be altered, as well as affect speech and feeding patterns. Severe cleft lip and palate issues may also lead to ear infections for some children.

Ear deformities affect more than 20 percent of all children born each year. Various abnormalities can result in conchal crus, cupping, helical compression, lidding, lop ear, prominent, stahl’s or tanzer 1 constricted ear deformities, and have the potential to affect the development of children both physically and emotionally. The recent addition of the EarWell™ Infant Ear Correction System to The Plastic Surgery Group’s procedures allows our doctors to non-invasively correct ear abnormalities of infants with no surgery involved.

You can take steps to prevent your unborn child from being born with birth defects. Use of cigarettes, alcohol and/or other drugs, as well as the use of many medicines, has been linked to birth defects and is strongly discouraged. As well, women are encouraged to take folic acid as soon as they intend to become pregnant, as folic acid helps first trimester brain and spine development. Regular medical checkups, infectious disease tests and vaccinations should be used to protect the health of both mother and child.

]]>https://www.theplasticsurgerygroup.net/blog/january-is-national-birth-defects-prevention-month/feed/1EarWell™ Infant Ear Correction System Comes to the Capital Regionhttps://www.theplasticsurgerygroup.net/blog/earwell-infant-ear-correction-system-comes-to-the-capital-region/
https://www.theplasticsurgerygroup.net/blog/earwell-infant-ear-correction-system-comes-to-the-capital-region/#respondWed, 12 Dec 2012 16:49:01 +0000http://www.theplasticsurgerygroup.net/blog/?p=522Continue reading →]]>Did you know that 20 to 35 percent of all children are born with ear abnormalities that may result in conchal crus, cupping, helical compression, lidding, lop ear, prominent, stahl’s or tanzer 1 constricted ear deformities? These abnormalities lead to negative impacts on children’s physical and emotional development, which often results in decreased self-esteem throughout their lives, from childhood through adulthood.

Today, the entire staff at The Plastic Surgery Group is pleased to announce the availability of the EarWell™ Infant Ear Correction System. This state-of-the-art system is the first to provide doctors with the ability to safely and reliably correct infant ear deformities without the need for risky surgical procedures.

“For decades doctors have used the ‘wait and see method’ when it pertains to infant ear deformities. Sometimes the problem corrects itself, however, most times children end up needing invasive surgery around age four or five to correct the issue,” according to Dr. John Noonan, plastic surgeon at The Plastic Surgery Group in Albany. “With this new system, doctors can easily solve the problems associated with ear deformities with little to no risk, before it negatively affects the child.”

These ear deformities can be diagnosed at birth. During the first post-natal office visit, the doctors at The Plastic Surgery Group can safely and non-invasively affix the EarWell™ system to any infant. The procedure takes approximately four to six weeks to successfully reshape the child’s ears with no surgery or needles involved, and the system’s success rates have reached 90 percent in clinical testing. It is one of the most highly regarded procedures among children.

The Plastic Surgery Group is the first practice in the Capital Region to offer the EarWell™system. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact us via our website or call (518) 438-0505.

]]>https://www.theplasticsurgerygroup.net/blog/earwell-infant-ear-correction-system-comes-to-the-capital-region/feed/0Breast Reconstruction Options for Breast Cancer Survivors in Albanyhttps://www.theplasticsurgerygroup.net/blog/reconstruction-options-for-breast-cancer-survivors/
https://www.theplasticsurgerygroup.net/blog/reconstruction-options-for-breast-cancer-survivors/#respondFri, 28 Sep 2012 18:00:26 +0000http://www.theplasticsurgerygroup.net/blog/?p=299Continue reading →]]>This October, we reflect on the lives of the 40,000 women that die each year from breast cancer. Fortunately, around 200,000 of those diagnosed, successfully rid the disease – but not without lasting effects. Did you know that 7 out of 10 diagnosed women are never even told about breast reconstruction options available to them after they have survived the battle?

Results of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer often forces a woman to have a mastectomy, or have one or both of her breasts removed. Breast reconstruction surgery can help a woman regain her original shape and make her chest look naturally balanced again. More importantly, the procedure helps to restore confidence in her health and appearance. The surgeons at The Plastic Surgery Group understand the difficult time that a cancer survivor faces and discusses surgical options in a positive, compassionate and straightforward manner.

Breast Reconstructive Surgery

Breast reconstructive surgery can either be performed immediately following the mastectomy or at a later date. There have been many new advancements and techniques developed in recent years, which can be discussed on an individual level, depending on needs or desired results. Most women need around six weeks to feel back to normal following breast reconstruction surgery but recovery time should always be discussed with your surgeon.

“It’s amazing, even disheartening in a sense, to think that most breast cancer survivors do not understand the reconstructive options available to them,” said Dr. Lynch. “Plastic surgery is not always cosmetic. It is often a very real and respected option for survivors to help restore confidence and transform their bodies to the way it was before the illness. With National Breast Cancer Awareness Month upon us, the surgeons at The Plastic Surgery Group want to help as many individuals as possible understand this information.”

]]>https://www.theplasticsurgerygroup.net/blog/reconstruction-options-for-breast-cancer-survivors/feed/0The Plastic Surgery Group Perfects Children with Cleft Palateshttps://www.theplasticsurgerygroup.net/blog/the-plastic-surgery-group-perfects-children-with-cleft-palates/
https://www.theplasticsurgerygroup.net/blog/the-plastic-surgery-group-perfects-children-with-cleft-palates/#respondWed, 12 Sep 2012 18:06:20 +0000http://www.theplasticsurgerygroup.net/blog/?p=278Continue reading →]]>Cleft lips and cleft palates occur in roughly 1 of every 500-700 births. While the exact cause of them is still unknown, making prevention impossible, the alarming percentage creates the need for local help. If a child is born with either one of these birth defects, surgery can be performed to resolve the facial issue.

About Cleft Lips & Cleft Palates

Cleft lips and cleft palates are birth defects that affect the upper lip and roof of the mouth, and severity can vary depending on the child. As incomplete formations of the skin, both between the nose and upper lip and on the roof of the mouth, they can impact the appearance of the child’s face. More importantly, they can lead to other problems including complications pertaining to speech and feeding, and can even result in ear infections. It’s important to undergo a surgical procedure to fix the defect at a young age, to prevent complications while growing older.

Cleft Lip/Palate Surgery Options

Dr. John Noonan of The Plastic Surgery Group in Albany, NY, specializes in surgical procedures involving cleft lips and palates and is a member of the American Cleft Palate Association. Additionally, he donates his time and talent to a bi-monthly craniofacial clinic he helped establish in 1983 at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany. There, he offers facial reconstruction and cosmetic enhancements to children with cleft lips, cleft palates, and other congenital facial anomalies, as well as those disfigured by burns and trauma. The program is available regardless of patient insurance or ability to pay. He has also volunteered with several relief efforts over the years including Operation Smile to help restore facial features distorted by conflict or natural disasters.

“One of the best feelings in the world is seeing a child smile after correcting his or her facial anomaly,” said Dr. Noonan. “All these kids are perfect in their own way. But these corrections help prevent potential speech impediments and also impact their long-term self-esteem. The confidence that it gives them is truly priceless.”

Would you like to find out more about corrective surgery? Request a free consultation with one of the surgeons at The Plastic Surgery Group or call (518) 438-0505.